A2A has conducted operational load tests on double-girder overhead travelling cranes within the steam turbine hall of the Centrale termoelettrica di Sermide, a combined cycle power plant in Italy.
The development was announced by Pietro Franceschini, a Mechanical and Civil Maintenance Engineer at A2A, through a LinkedIn post.
To replicate nominal loading conditions, the team employed water-filled load test bags, facilitating precise weight calibration while ensuring a secure testing environment.
The tests encompassed full cycles of hoisting, lowering, trolley travel, and bridge movement, executed under load and dynamic conditions.
The tests were supervised by an inspector from the Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS). They aimed to confirm the structural integrity of the crane systems and ensure the proper functioning of lifting mechanisms, braking systems, limit switches, and control interfaces.
Additionally, the tests verified compliance with regulatory requirements for periodic inspections and assessed the operational readiness of the cranes.
These evaluations are crucial for major maintenance activities on key plant components, such as the steam turbines.
“I personally coordinated and oversaw the planning and execution of the entire testing procedure, in collaboration with internal maintenance staff and external inspectors. The activities were successfully completed over two working days, in full compliance with safety and technical standards,” Franceschini said in the post.
He further highlighted the importance of routine testing in maintaining the safety, availability, and performance of critical infrastructure in the energy sector.
The Sermide thermoelectric power plant, owned by A2A, underwent a conversion to combined cycle turbogas technology between 2000 and 2004, operating solely on natural gas with a total power capacity of 1,158MW. Following certain modifications in 2023, the total installed power reached 1,234MW.
